Director – Integrated Planning & Strategy

WHY DEPT®?

We are pioneers at heart. What this means, is that we are always leaning forward, thinking of what we can create tomorrow that does not exist today. We were born digital and we are a new model of agency, with a deep skillset in tech and marketing. That’s why we hire curious, self-driven, talented people who never stop innovating.

Our culture is big enough to cope and small enough to care. Meaning, that with people across 20+ countries, we’re big enough to provide you with the best tools, global opportunities, and benefits that help you thrive. While acting small by investing in you, your growth, your team, and giving you the autonomy to solve our clients’ problems, no matter where you are in the world. 

This is a Hybrid role and you must be able to commute into one of our office locations in Boston or Chicago at least 3 days a week

ABOUT YOU:

We believe that real media impact comes from having a holistic understanding of consumers, culture, channels, content and commerce. Deciphering present day trends and historical performance from these interconnected and interdependent fields begins to represent our journey towards lasting growth for our clients. You understand that there’s art & science to the craft, requiring creativity & rigor, all done with the goal of moving hearts & minds. You understand the dynamic and know how to flex into either or both sides of this spectrum depending on the situation. 

As such, we are looking for a Director, Integrated Media Strategy & Planning who shares this mindset and wants to join a talented team of growth marketers. This leadership role is equal parts seasoned client partner who can earn the trust of senior level clients, as well as a strategist well versed in storytelling and omnichannel planning that drive tangible outcomes. Ideally, you have several years of experience in full-funnel media strategy, and if not direct experience in, a robust understanding of media planning, media buying and media activation. You’re comfortable working with the biggest brands in the world, but also don’t mind being able to partner with smaller brands. Experience having worked on Retail brands is a must, with the ability to consult on the evolving retail media space, and provide media best practices for online commerce/ecommerce and offline retail. Specific experience with Amazon, Best Buy, Target, and Walmart is a priority for this role while ideally having had experience with how to best integrate those retailers and others into an omni-channel media strategy.

You’ll work closely in tandem with the business development, client partner, creative, data science & analytics, data & tech, and channel activation teams to retain clients and win new ones. You will join us as a key member of the Integrated Planning & Strategy team at a crucial time when its scope, size and influence are growing more immediately within the Creative & Media team, and gradually across the broader, global DEPT footprint. 

You’ll be responsible for:

Leadership

• Have the aptitude for elevating a client’s ambition in ways that allow us to over deliver and bring proactive growth orientated solutions
• Champion the work by having a deep understanding of our clients’ businesses and what makes them tick.
• Possess the ability to identify business growth opportunities and develop strategic recommendations to support the growth of client relationships
• Support the expansion of our Integrated Planning and Strategy practice within the Creative & Media team at DEPT within North America and globally
• Actively contribute to our communications planning practice, while steering media strategy and planning practices.
• Must have a strong passion for critical thinking, problem solving, and a deep understanding of how businesses, brands and customers interact, with an equal understanding of the role that data and technology play in this relationship. 

Planning

• Experience leading full-funnel, connected media and data driven strategies 
• Develop communication plans that connect Consumer, Commerce and Content insights into media strategy and activation opportunities
• Understand first-party data to elevate strategic opportunities
• Continually monitor current marketing trends, new technology solutions, and competitors
• Experience using insights from data to tell a story
• Steer the creation of holistic communication plans and corresponding media strategies; from setting objectives & KPIs, audience sizing, profiling, targeting, , determining media channel mix and potential tactics/partners, budget setting to measurement frameworks
• Closely partner and collaborate with interconnected internal teams such as Client Services, Creative Services, Activation and Decision Sciences when creating and executing holistic media campaigns
• Work along a range of cross-discipline teams both within the agency and client’s team alike, building a collaborative and trusting relationship along the way
• Participate in new business development and other growth opportunities.

You’ll need to have:

• 8+ years of hands-on and leadership experience in cross-channel media strategy, planning & activation inclusive of all digital channels with understanding of Programmatic, Search/Shopping, Retail media and Social; knowledge and experience in traditional channels is preferred but not mandatory
• 4+ years of experience in Integrated Marketing Communications / Communications / Connections planning with a paid-owned-earned-shared perspective, while at an agency or client
• 4+ years experience working on Retail brands and having crafted media strategy and planning on both US and international retailers including Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, and Target.
• Experience working with nationally / globally recognized brands, ideally in an multi-agency and stakeholder environment (e.g. IAT), with direct experience in 360 sponsorship / tentpole campaign planning and activation
• A balanced mix of robust B2B and B2C experience 
• Understanding of brand and performance media and the synergy across the two
• Natural, proven leadership instincts that your team will want to follow, and your clients will implicitly trust
• Able to clearly and concisely articulate a persuasive point of view, both written and verbal, presenting to project stakeholders
• Curious and creative, while rigorous and analytical. 
• Able to understand clients visible and invisible needs
• Strong collaboration, client relationship, and leadership skills
• Experience navigating cross-functional teams and dynamics
• Deep experience with media industry research and planning tools (i.e. ComScore, MRI, GWI, Kantar, Pathmatics)
• Flexibility to travel for work meetings and events

WHAT DO WE OFFER?

We are a collaborative, open-door, best-idea-wins environment that fosters personal and company growth and has fun doing it. Here is a snapshot of our  benefits package:

• Healthcare, Dental, and Vision coverage
• 401k plan, plus matching
• PTO
• Paid Company Holidays
• Parental Leave

WE SUPPORT YOU BEING YOU: 

DEPT® is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). We believe our work is its best when our people feel safe and free to be themselves. We’re committed to an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment and selection process and workplace, regardless of anyone’s lived experience, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, and genetic information. So tell us about any accommodations you need. It’s totally confidential and only used to make sure you feel fully supported at every step.

DEPT® participates in E-Verify, meaning your Form I-9 information will be sent to the federal government to confirm you are authorized to work in the U.S. 

We are a B Corp-certified company passionate about purpose-driven work.  Our hope is that you can feel good about the contributions DEPT® is making to the world and we always have an open door for your ideas in making the world a better place. 

DEPT® is a pioneering technology and marketing services company that creates integrated end-to-end digital experiences for brands such as Google, KFC, Philips, Audi, Twitch, Patagonia, eBay and more. Its team of 2,500+ digital specialists across 30+ locations on 5 continents delivers pioneering work on a global scale with a boutique culture. 

Learn more about DEPT®

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, & INCLUSION

At DEPT®, we take pride in creating an inclusive workplace where everyone has an equal opportunity to thrive. We actively seek to recruit, develop, nurture, and retain talented individuals from diverse backgrounds, with varying skills and perspectives.

Not sure you meet all qualifications? Apply, and let us decide! Research shows that women and members of underrepresented groups tend not to apply for jobs when they think they may not meet every requirement, when in fact they do. We believe in giving everyone a fair chance to shine. 

We also encourage you  to reach out to us and discuss any reasonable adjustments we can make to support you throughout the recruitment process and your time with us.

Want to know more about our dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion? Check out our efforts here.

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